Book of Mormon Lesson Plan 23

Introduction

Place a wrapped box on the table and ask what might be in it.  Would anyone believe me if I said there was $1,000 inside?  I claim there is.  Now ask someone to look inside my box, and have them tell what is inside it.  Is it easier to believe what you can’t see when a second person has seen and testifies?  Why?

Alma had the tough assignment of preaching repentance to a hardened group of Nephites who did not believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They rejected his testimony, so the Lord provided a second witness to corroborate Alma’s testimony.  Alma and Amulek were a powerful companionship who taught the truth fearlessly and effectively.

Alma is rejected in Ammonihah

Alma’s example

Alma’s responsibility was not always easy.  He taught in Zarahemla, where the people were falling into wickedness, but many were willing to hear the word and repent.  Then he taught in Gideon and Melek where the people were more righteous.  Then he went to Ammonihah where the people were proud of their wickedness and rejected Alma.  Alma sets a great example for us in two passages:

Read Alma 8:9-10 – In spite of the initial “not hearkening” of the people, he persisted.  What are some of the meaningful things recorded that Alma did?

• Labored in the spirit.  He knew there was no way he could convince them to change by logic or force.  Any change was going to require the influence of the Holy Ghost.
• Wrestled with God in mighty prayer.  This sounds like Enos and the Nephite disciples who were anxious to do right.
• His desires were that God would pour out his Spirit upon the wicked.  That is a great example of charity.

And how was he rewarded?  They spit on him, reviled him, and threw him out of their city.

Read Alma 8:18 – After the angel told Alma to back to those reviling, spitting people who forcefully rejected his teachings, Alma wasted no time in going back.  And he was even resourceful and found an alternate entrance to give him a greater chance at success.

How can we apply Alma’s example in our lives? 

People of Ammonihah had forgotten their righteous traditions

Read Alma 9:8-11 – One of the underlying problems faced by the people in Ammonihah was their lack of “cultural memory.”  They would not or could not learn from history.

• How does this type of forgetfulness lead to wickedness?
• What are some ways you have found that help you remember what the Lord has done for you?

Amulek preaches to the people in Ammonihah

Now Amulek stands to preach.  Apparently he is a wealthy resident of the city and is fairly well known.  He began by telling the people of meeting Alma after being commanded by an angel to care for him.  Amulek told the people that he was converted to the gospel as preached by Alma by the things Alma taught over the course of time while he was living in Amulek’s house.  (see Alma 10:1-11)

After this introduction, the people were surprised to find that there was a second witness delivering the same message as Alma.  However, in the hardness of their hearts, they still tried to trap Amulek.  The lawyers led the way, motivated by a desire to cause problems that they would be paid to solve.  (see Alma 10:12-15, 32; 11:20)

Saved from our sins, not in them

After some preliminary questions, Zeezrom asks a potentially troublesome one.  Read Alma 11:34.  Why is Amulek so emphatic in his answer to this question?  What would it mean to be saved in our sins?  Why is this impossible? 

Consider an analogy of someone trapped in a burning building.  You don’t save them by giving them some water or handing them an electric fan.  The only way to save them is to remove them from the flames.  Likewise with sin, we cannot merely address some of the consequences of sin; to be saved, we need to address the root problem – the sin itself.

Universal and conditional blessings of the Atonement

Read Alma 11:40-45 and identify the blessings that are free gifts to everyone, and those that are only effective in the lives of those who repent.

• Verse 40 – This verse says “he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name…”  This does not mean that Jesus did not suffer the sins of those who do not believe.  It does mean that his suffering is of no effect in their lives.  This is partly what it means to “set at naught the Atonement.”  Our lack of faith makes the Atonement useless in our lives and causes Christ’s suffering to be in vain.  (see 1 Nephi 19:7, 9; Moroni 8:20)
• Resurrection comes to all people, regardless of the choices they make in life.
• What does Amulek teach about the resurrection?  How does this compare to a general understanding in Christianity?

Alma supports Amulek’s teachings

More than one witness

In Alma 11:40-42, Amulek taught several important doctrines.  Following the law of witnesses, Alma follows up and testifies of these same doctrines.

DOCTRINE	AMULEK’S WITNESS	ALMA’S WITNESS
The Atonement	Alma 11:40	Alma 12:33–34
Repentance	Alma 11:40	Alma 12:24
Judgment	Alma 11:41	Alma 12:14
Resurrection	Alma 11:41–42	Alma 12:24–25

Additional doctrines on the plan of redemption

Read Alma 12:14-18

• Notice in verse 15 that God is both merciful and just, and all people will recognize and acknowledge these qualities in him.
• The spiritual death Alma refers to in verse 16 is not the death of our spirit similar to the death of our body.  Rather it is the separation of our spirits from God; our death pertaining to things of righteousness.
• The torment in verse 17 is not God’s vengeful inflicting of torture upon us.  It is the memory of our guilt and the knowledge that by our actions, we have forfeited the wonderful blessings that were offered to us.  Regret is powerful.

Summarize Alma 12:22-34.  This is one of the best summaries of the entire plan of salvation anywhere in scripture.

Conclusion

Alma and Amulek bore their witness of the Savior.  We have the opportunity and obligation to become a witness of these things too.  Our witness will change our lives, and enable us to follow Alma’s example and share these teachings with others.